Vessel-raising apparatus



M. BURKE..

VESSEL RAISING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22. 1919.

1 329,225. Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

M. BURKE.

VESSEL RAISING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22. 1919,. 1,329,225. Patented Jan. 27,1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2- M. BURKE.

VESSEL RAISING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22. l9l9-.

1,329,225. Patented Jan. 27,1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET 3.

M. BURKE. VESSEL RAISING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1919. l I 1,329,225. Patented Jan. 27,1920.

4 SHEETSSHEET 4- MATT BURKE, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

VESSEL-RAISING APPARATUS.

Application filed September 22, 1819.

To all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that I, MATT BURKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented new and useful Improve ments in Vessel-Raising Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in means for raising sunken vessels, and generally stated embodies an independent means by which the sunken vessel may be directly located, and means operated wholly from the surface of the water for attaching lifting cables to said sunken vessels, and means for operating the sunken cables to raise the vessel tothe surface.

In the directing means the invention comprises a body constructed for travel below the surface of the water and carries a powerful liQht, the rays of which are bent downwardly so that an observer traveling directly above the submersed detector can readily locate the sunken vessel. The cable attachinc; means comprehends a boring tool adapted to be operated from the surface of the water and in the use of which an openino: is formed in the sunken vessel and the cable following the boring tool through such open ing; is automatically connected to the sun en vessel to prevent separation therefrom. The invention also comprehends a surface vessel equipped with cable liftino; means so that the cables, a number of which have been attached as described, to the sunken vessel, may be drawn upon to raise the vessel to the surface.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing the improved detector in use. i

Fin. 2 is an enlarged bottom plan of the detector.

Fitz. 3 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 4 is a view in elevation of the lower end of the cable lifting means.

Fig. 5 is a vertical central sectional view of the same.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a view in elevation. illustratingthe action of the cable securing means followinq the passaae of the boring means through the opening in the deck of the sunken vessel.

Fin. 9 is a view in elevation of the upper portion of the cable attaching means,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 27, 1920.

Serial No. 325,388.

Fig. 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a view in elevation of the drill machine by which the cable attaching means is operated.

IE 12 is a view in elevation of the surface vessel for supporting the cable attaching and cable lifting: machinery.

13 is a plan of the same.

Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section of the same.

Fig. 15 is enlarged view in elevation of the cable-lifting machinery; one side being removed to clearly illustrate the same.

As previously sta ed, the present invention involves three distinct types of apparatus. one a detector in the use of which the location of the sunken vessel may be readily ascertained, second a cable attaching means by which suitable lifting cables may be attached to the sunken vessels, and third a cable lifting means, by which the cables so attached to the vessel may be drawn upon to raise the vessel to the surface. The followingspecification will deal with these independent parts separately.

Vessel detector.

The improved detector comprises a hollow body 1 substantially of cigar shape, within which at the forward end is located powerful light 2. The light 2 is preferably an electric light, fed from a suitable source on the surface of the water, and in rear of this light is arranged a deflector. as at 3, so that the light rays are directed downwardly. The bodyl is provided with a heavy steel weight, pendent thereof through rods 5, so that the body will remain in an upright position. and will sink to a considerable depth. The top surface of the body has a guiding vane 6 whereby the body is kept straight in the towing operation. and the sides of the body are provided with directing vanes 7, which incline downwardly and forwardlv, overcoming the tendency of the body to rise. and compellin it to travel over a substantially straight line.

In use. thedetector is towed as by a tow line 8 from a motor or other boat9. and the wire serving the light 2 may be fed from a suitable source on this boat. The power boat 9 also tows. as by two lines 10. an observcrs boat 11, and the relative length of the tow lines 8 and 10 are such that the observers boat is directly above the detector 1. By this means the observer in the boat 11 is enabled to detect the exact location of the sunken vessel in order that the subsequent operation may be carried out.

Gable attaching means.

The cable attaching means embodies a hollow casing made up of sections 12, within flanges 13 provided with clamping means 14 whereby the sections may be ecured in endwise relation to provide an elongated casing of the desired length. Rotatably mounted within the casing 12 is a driving tube made up of sections 15, these sections at their meeting ends being formed with cooperating projections and notches 16 whereby when assembled in endwise relation, they may 1nterlok to secure simultaneous rotation. A cable 17, as a wire rope of appropriate thickness, is adapted to pass lengthwise, and within the operating tube 15, the lower end of the cable having fixedly secured thereto a solid section 18, the upper end of which is formed with notches 19 to coogei ate with the projections 16 on tl e lowermost section 15 of the operators tube. The lower end of the member 18, which is in effeet a drill head, is formed with a drill point 20 this point being of step formation as indicated at 21, whereby the drill point proper may be caused to take hold even if the drill is operating again st a relatively inclined surface. At diametrically opposite points the drill head 18 is longitudinally slotted, as at 22, and arms 23 are adapted to seat in said slot and when seated lie flush with the surface of the drillhead. A spring 2 1 is mounted in the drill head between arms 23, said spring acting when the arms are free to project said arms into a relatively horizontal position, that is diametrically of the drill head 18, to form projections beyond said drill head, as clearly shown in Fig. 8.

The lowermost section of the casing 12 is formed at its fr e end with a circular or spherical bearing 25 and a bearing plate 26, preferably formed in two sections, is centrally formed with an opening 27 to cooperate with the spherical bearing 25. The lower surface of the bearing plate 26 is formed with sharp points 28, and this bearing plate functions to engage the surface of the vessel against which the boring tool is to be operated, and to'hold a connection substantially firm'for the operation of the drill. The cable 17 immediately beyond the free end of the uppermost section 15 of the boring tube is provided with a clamp 29 whereby the cable is held tight within said boring tube, in order that the connection of the lowermost section of said boring tube and the drill head may be maintained during the boring operation.

The uppermost or final section 15 of the whereby the gear 31 may be operated. The

lower portion of the frame 33 of the drill machine carries spaced clamping members 36 within which is clamped the uppermost section of the casing 12. The casing is thus held fixed with relation to the machine while the boring tube together with the drill head attached thereto is rotated in order that the boring tool may form an opening in the shell of the vessel with which it is engaged. A feeding machine 37 is adapted to be clamped to the boring tube below the gear 31 and a hand feeding device 38, of appropriate type, is mounted upon the fr .ne 33, whereby the boring tube cable and drill may be bent downwardly a desired. Of course it is apparent that the weight of these parts is practically suflicien for feeding purposes, but the hand feed mechanism is here shown in the event that the material encountered will require the addition of such mechanism in order that the drill may be properly fed therethrough.

With the use of the improved cable attaching means, it is apparent that the drill will force its way through theoshell ot the sunken vessel and that following the drill head through such opening, such head upon release of the cable clamp 29 may be separated from the bor ng tube and the latter together with the casing 12 raised to the surface. As the drill head passes through the opening, the arms 23 are spread below the shell or" the vessel, indicated at 39 in 8, thus securing the cable to the vesse Gable raising means. 7

In Figs. 12, 13 and 14., there is shown a surface vessel which is designed to support the cable attaching mechanism just described and also the cable raising means. This vessel which is here shown as substantialy of scow form comprises a hollow body 40 formed with a central well 11 opening wholly through the vessel from top to bottom but within the side limit thereof. A suitable deck support 41 is secured upon this vessel, and housings may be provided on this deck for the reception of cable at taching machinery and the cable raising means. A hoisting means, such as a drum 12 is mounted onrthe deck 41, and driven drum a2, and the hoisting machinery will draw upon said cable with the effect to raise the sunken vessel to the surface.

It is of course to be understood that a number of vessels 10 are to be employed, as it is apparent that a number or" cables must be attached to the vessel and to dille" nt points thereof in order that the same i be raised without imparting str on the cable. Of course as many cables as may be necessary are contemplated tor use, in which event the vessel for each such cable will be employed.

Having QGSCI'lbGtl the invention what is claimed as new is 1. A cable attaching means for raising the sunken vessel, including a rotating boring tube, a drill removably connected thereto, and a cable secured to the drill head and extending longitudinally of the tube.

2. A vessel raising means including an operating tube, drill head removably connected thereto, a cable secured to the drill head and passing longitudinally through the tube, a casing within which said tube is operated and means on the drill head to automatically project beyond the same when the drill head has been lowered beyond the casing.

3. A cable attaching means ior raising sunken vessels including a casing, a tube rotatable therein, a drill head removably connected with the lower end of the tube, a cable secured to the drill head and passing longitudinally through the tube, arms carried by the drill head and adapted to be projected beyond the surface of tie drill head, when the latter has been lowered below the casing and means for rotating the tube.

A cable attaching means for raising sunken vessels, including a casing, a sup porting tube carried thereby, an operating tube mounted within the casing, a drill head removably connected to the lower end of the tube, a cable secured to the drill head and extending longitudinally of the tube, and means for clamping the upper end of the cable with relation to the tube to maintain the drill head and tube in connection, an arm carried by the drill head and held in operative relation within the casing, said arm being projected to lateral position when the drill extends below the casing.

A cable attaching means for raising vessels, comprising a casing made up of endwise connected sections, a tube rotatable within the casing and made up of endwise connections, a drill head adapted for removable connection with the lower end of the tube, a cable secured to said drill head and extending longitudinally of and within the tube, arms carried by the drill head and held in inoperative relation to said head and while the head is within the casing, and means for projecting said arms laterally of the drill head when the latter has moved below the casing.

6. A cable attaching means for raising vessels, comprising a casing made up of endwise connected sections, a tube rotatable within the casing and made up of endwise connections, a drill head adapted for removable connection with the lower end of the tube, a cable secured to said drill head and extending longitudinally of and within the tube, arms carried by ,the drill head and held in inoperative relation to said head and while the head is within the casing, and means for projecting said arms laterally of the drill head when the latter has moved to below the casing and a clamp for clamping the casing and means carried by the casing for rotating the tube.

In testimony whereor" l ailix my signature.

MATT BURKE. 

